Smallville: The Return of Lionel Luthor

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John Glover talks about coming back, as the story takes a dark turn.

By Eric Goldman

A big part of Smallville history is back this week, as John Glover returns as Lionel Luthor. Fans are very happy to see Lionel again, but when I spoke to Glover this week, he said his original question for the producers when they approached him to reprise his role was a simple one: "How?!"

Glover recalled telling the producers, "'How in the world…? My son pushed me forty stories to my death! I'm a bundle of bones and broken organs. How can you expect me to [return]?' But they said, 'We have a way…' And they had a way!"

That way is an alternate universe that Clark (Tom Welling) finds himself transported to, thanks to a Kryptonian device, in an episode aptly called "Luthor." In this world, which Glover notes the Smallville crew is referring to as "Earth 2" (which DC fans should appreciate) there is one very big difference, Glover notes. "Clark has been raised by Lionel and he's everything Lionel has wanted in a son." Glover ominously remarked, "It's getting out of hand when the episode starts," because Earth 2 is "much darker." As to where Lionel's biological son is this universe, Glover would only say, "I don't want to give it away, but what happened to Lex is very interesting."

John Glover in Smallville: "Luthor"

A huge reveal in a recent episode was that Lionel also has a daughter – none other than Tess Mercer. Glover laughed about this, saying, "Who would have known!? I did not know I had an illegitimate daughter. For seven years, I had no idea. So I was mighty surprised. But look at what I made!" Glover revealed that he and Cassidy Freeman have become fast friends, saying, "She's fabulous. She was just over for dinner the other night. We have hit it off, yeah."

Speaking about what Lionel and Tess' relationship is like, Glover hinted at some creepy undertones, at least on Lionel's side, as he remarked, "Well, because she's the kind of woman that she is… Lionel is very attracted to women like that. So there was a little bit of… Because they hadn't spent time together, it wasn't in Lionel's mind that she was a daughter, if you can grasp what I'm trying to tell you in a very slight way. This Lionel is not the best kind of guy. I really, truly believed in the Lionel before, but like I said, this Earth is a much darker kind of place and I think a lot of that has to do with Lionel and Lionel raising Clark to follow in his image."

Comparing the two Lionels, Glover said, 'It's the same physical being, but a whole different mindset."

Tom Welling and John Glover

As for what it felt like to return to the Smallville set, Glover spoke about what a positive experience it was. "A lot of the same crew are there, so it was like going home again. The people there let me know that I was missed, which felt great, I'm telling you. There's nothing like it… To have a whole group of people say, 'Oh my god, how we missed you!"

Glover wouldn't confirm the rumors that he will be appearing in as many as three more episodes in Season 10, but when I mentioned the possibility of seeing Lionel and Martha Kent together again (Annette O'Toole is slated to guest star this season as well), he said, "Annette and I have stayed very close through the years since we both left, so we're chomping at the bit to play together again."

For now, besides Clark and Tess, Glover said he also works with Justin Hartley as Oliver Queen in "Luthor," but as for Erica Durance, he noted, "When Erica first started, we played together a couple of times and then we keep longing… We pass in the hallways, staying, 'When will they come up with a scene for us?'"

Tune in to The CW on Friday, December 3rd at 8:00pm ET to catch Smallville's new episode, "Luthor."